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> After using several of these "second brain" apps & systems and ultimately creating my own "second brain" app, I agree with this, and the general sentiment beh

> After using several of these "second brain" apps & systems and ultimately creating my own "second brain" app, I agree with this, and the general sentiment behind it. This space is just a rebranded subset of self-help. It's the productivity porn market. Roam Research was the first to realize the cash gains to be made in this space. Their marketing hook took off, they got their VC handout, and they haven't been heard from since. Honestly, this is probably a good description of your situation, but certainly not everyone's. I use Obsidian every day and nothing you've written resonates with me. I dump things into the tool. I find those things when I need them. I'm much, much more productive as a result. Plus the sync is the best I've ever used. Works flawlessly every time on my Linux desktop, my Surface running Windows, my Chromebook, and my Android phone. Maybe your work doesn't require these tools?

ramraj07 4y ago
Did you fuss over the differences between obsidian and one note and google keep or whatever? Or did you just decide one day you need to note things down more and found obsidian and stuck to it? If there’s any productivity gain to be had here, it’s because you chose to write things down in a system you can search. Maybe the hyperlinking works, maybe it doesn’t. I’ve met a decent number of productive smart people and have seen zero correlation between note taking styles (or even note taking at all) and their outputs.
- bachmeier 4y ago
  I used to think this way: > If there’s any productivity gain to be had here, it’s because you chose to write things down in a system you can search. Maybe the hyperlinking works, maybe it doesn’t. I realized that my system was useless if it didn't do 100% of what I needed. Sure, search usually works, but sometimes I need linking. If I'm taking notes on a paper, search doesn't help - I need a link to the paper and convenient storage. > I’ve met a decent number of productive smart people and have seen zero correlation between note taking styles (or even note taking at all) and their outputs. That's because needs vary widely. My father ran a business doing things like installing water and power lines. He didn't have an elaborate notes system, but he had one that was elaborate enough. Some things had to be captured and had to be retrievable with certainty. It had to be something he could do from the inside of the backhoe. I'm an academic. My needs are vastly different. His system would not have helped me at all. I'm not denying that some people waste time on these things. I don't see that as an argument that all of these apps and systems are useless though.
  - ramraj07 4y ago
    Most smart people I know are academics though. Professors. They’re actually notorious for NOT taking notes! Except maybe when they’re writing a book or something.
    - legends2k 4y ago
      Well, some of the smartest I've known to take notes e.g. Dijkstra and Knuth.
    - steveklabnik 4y ago
      The Zettelkasten method was created initially by a professor to do his research work. > Except maybe when they’re writing a book or something. This may be part of the difference; Luhmann wrote like 70 books or something.

ramraj07 4y ago

Did you fuss over the differences between obsidian and one note and google keep or whatever? Or did you just decide one day you need to note things down more and found obsidian and stuck to it? If there’s any productivity gain to be had here, it’s because you chose to write things down in a system you can search. Maybe the hyperlinking works, maybe it doesn’t. I’ve met a decent number of productive smart people and have seen zero correlation between note taking styles (or even note taking at all) and their outputs.

bachmeier 4y ago
I used to think this way: > If there’s any productivity gain to be had here, it’s because you chose to write things down in a system you can search. Maybe the hyperlinking works, maybe it doesn’t. I realized that my system was useless if it didn't do 100% of what I needed. Sure, search usually works, but sometimes I need linking. If I'm taking notes on a paper, search doesn't help - I need a link to the paper and convenient storage. > I’ve met a decent number of productive smart people and have seen zero correlation between note taking styles (or even note taking at all) and their outputs. That's because needs vary widely. My father ran a business doing things like installing water and power lines. He didn't have an elaborate notes system, but he had one that was elaborate enough. Some things had to be captured and had to be retrievable with certainty. It had to be something he could do from the inside of the backhoe. I'm an academic. My needs are vastly different. His system would not have helped me at all. I'm not denying that some people waste time on these things. I don't see that as an argument that all of these apps and systems are useless though.
- ramraj07 4y ago
  Most smart people I know are academics though. Professors. They’re actually notorious for NOT taking notes! Except maybe when they’re writing a book or something.
  - legends2k 4y ago
    Well, some of the smartest I've known to take notes e.g. Dijkstra and Knuth.
  - steveklabnik 4y ago
    The Zettelkasten method was created initially by a professor to do his research work. > Except maybe when they’re writing a book or something. This may be part of the difference; Luhmann wrote like 70 books or something.